February 8, Reading Notes

Exodus 28

I know the only thing the guys will take away from this section is the invention of underwear. They will note that they were boxers. One thing I see, is that everything was made with meaning and it looked good. The second thing was that Aaron was to be burdened with the people. Twice, the names of the tribes of Israel are carried on his person as part of his dress. God says, “Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.” The disciple of Jesus bears on his heart the reaching of the lost and the making of disciples for the next generation. And it doesn’t burden us with guilt, but with joy and excitement because God and the Spirit are with us to bless us, and the Lord sits at the right hand praying for us. We bear the name of Christ as His ambassadors, 2 Corinthians 5:20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

I don’t mean this in a negative sense, but as reality in the grace of Jesus and the plan of God, it should weigh on us that there are so many who do not know Christ. To think of the danger they are facing should weigh upon our hearts. “and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the Lord.”

All things are ours in Christ. Having a reason to get up every morning should empower us.

Matthew 25:31-26:13

Matt. 25:31-46

This judgment will take place immediately after the Tribulation as Jesus takes his throne for His thousand-year reign over the earth. Those who helped the saints proved their faith in God and will continue in the millennium, but those who did not help the believers, proved their rebellion to God. This means that the millennium will be seeded and begun with only believers. After the 1000 years, even with Satan bound and removed, the sin of man, with no influence other than from within, will rise up against God so that when Satan is freed, he will find hearts ready for rebellion.

This parable also makes it necessary that the rapture occurs before the end of the Tribulation. If believers are removed at the end of the Tribulation, there are no more sheep, only goats. The best time for the rapture is at the beginning of the Tribulation. The Tribulation is called “Jacob’s trouble,” and it is the fulfilling of Israel’s destiny. The church has no reason to be there.

Matt. 26:1-13

Jesus is now ready for crucifixion, except for the institution of the symbol of the new covenant and the final discourse to the disciples in John 12-17.

Oh, and the preparation for burial by Mary. What is touching in this act of love, is that Mary, the rich, aristocratic woman, learned to do this from the example of a woman who was a sinner and despised in society. Mary identified herself with those who were low and sinful, humbling herself before the feet of the merciful savior. In love, facing the scorn of the disciples no less, she poured out ointment worth a year’s wage at minimum wage. This momentary sacrifice is, and has been, a memorial to her and to all, like disciples, who pour out their lives at the feet of their savior in fragrant sacrifice, working in His harvest.

Psalm 31:9-18

As with the first part of this psalm from yesterday, I see this in Jesus’ death. When I read, “those who see me in the street flee from me,” I think of Jesus being led through the streets of Jerusalem, a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. So too, says Paul, are His disciples. 1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.

Cool. Bring it on.

Proverbs 8:12-13

How does a disciple keep this all in solution? I mean, being patient and gentle with opposition, yet to have God’s heart so deeply that we “hate” those things that oppose God and His Truth, like pride, arrogance and any attempt to twist God’s truth.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.